AUTOMOBILE ASSN.

Grey River Argus, 18 November 1942, Page 3

AUTOMOBILE ASSN.

Greymouth Branch

The Council of the , Greymouth Branch of the Canterbury Automobile Association met last evening. Mr. P. C. Heaphy presided and there were also present: Dr. W. McKay Messrs SB. Quintrell, G. R. Harker, J. Smith, T. Blackie, W. P. Hambleton, E. McDonnell. B. W. Caulton, N. Ellery, R. K. Holmes, P. S'. James, Captain F. N. Whitmore, and Mr. W. F. Harley (Secretary). The Chairman referred to the placing of a sum of money -at the disposal of the Branch by the Association. He said that this would be very useful in meeting various expenses instead of passing them on to the Association. It could be used to deal with matters as urgent inspecitiions in cases of breakdown of roads.

The question of arrangements for <’ the salvage of rubber wa's raised bv) Mr. Quintrell. He said that every effort should be made to get contribu-. tions of rubber from the public. I The Secretary said that a good | deal had been collected. Hundredsof 'tyres had been forwarded to Cant- ’ erbury. There were still a good num-1 ber of tyres in Greymouth however. The question of free railway transport was mentioned by Mr. Harker, J and some- discussion followed, Cap-, tain Whitmore stating that if the | railway would take them ian enorm-, ous quantity could be obtained from | the country as well as other material, : such as copper- etc. I There was also discussion as to j whether extra tyres which had to be declared when cars were registered could be handed in for the waste col,lection, and it was decided to write to the Government Department asking if free rail transport could be given and for clarification of this second point. The Chairman mentioned the bad, condition of 'the road at the northern approach to the bridge in Shakespeare Street and Mr. Caulton referred to the state- of Marsden Road, through the breaking of 'the tarsealing, causing pot-holes. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Borough Council on both matters. Mr.'Caulton asked whether representations could be- made for tne, extension of the Karoro bus service) tn Sinnott Road. He suggested also j that a traffic bridge should be con- ' structed to replace the present foot-| bridge in Marsden Road, and the se-r-( vice extended this way. _ J. The Chairman said that this was , not a matter for the Association, but for the Borough Council and the bus proprietor. Mr. Quintrell drew attention to tne bad cond'tion of Omoto Road. Mr. Holmes said that there was a particularly bad part at the culvert between the school and Ka’.ata. There was a danger of the road giving way and an accident taking place. It was decided that the matter should be referred to the Public Works Department. Mr. Hambleton referred to the rawway crossing signal in Tainui Street, which he said was not satisfactory and Hable to cause accidents. He was supnorted by Mr. Caulton who suggested that bells were needed The Secretary said that bells coulu not now be obtained, and the Department was trying to obviate them. They also led to complaints from neighbouring premises. . Mr. Smith said that the height oi the signal lights was not as satisfactory as that of those in Herbert The' Secretary said that the height was the same, but the apparent d|t.ference was caused by the dip in tne road. It was wossible however, that the lenses were a shade darken Mr. Hambleton said that difficulty was caused by the reflection of tne sun on the. lenses. ■ It was decided to ask the railway j authorities to confer with 'the As-i sociation on the matter.

SIGNALMAN FOR COBDEN CROSSING ASKED FOR.

The danger existing at the Cobden bridge crossing was brought up by Mr Harker, who said that the stationing of a crossing-keeper there was warranted'. Signals would be n 0 good. Dr. McKay said that the crossing presented Vi very complicated p’ece of driving. There were five points Irom wh’ch ci c?.r could be aporoacned by rcilwav or road, with the shunting operations thrown in for measure. The Chairman recalled the various efforts that had been made to have an overhead, bridge constructed. ' Traffic had increased through the taking over of . C°bden bv the Borough, and the- building of the State houses. There had been a lot of accidents, and riders on tne matter had been presented by tn e Grand and Common Juries .in a ie cent Court case. It was time something was done. A crossing-keepei seemed to he the most feasible as he did not think there was any likelihood of an overhead bridge during th Dr Va McKay seconded the proposal as the “only' thing clear at the mom it was decided to write to the General Manager of Railways asking that as a matter of urgency a signalman he placed at the southern end of the Cobden bridge-. u the Mr. Holmes asked whether tne netrol position would warrant askm. for allowance of the fun coupon for Christmas, and failing this, whether the two half coupons for December and January could be used in either m The Secretary said that the matter of r Rowing the full coupon had already been taken up by the Canter bury Associat’on, and it was decided to refer Mr. Holmes’s alternative stig gestion to the Association.